High Density Optical Network Access Switch

1. An optical network access switch, comprising: first and second banks of individually selectable optical inputs, the first and second banks being independent of each other; first and second groups of individually controllable optical outputs, the first and second groups being independent of each other; first and second multiplexers, the first multiplexer being connected to the optical inputs of the first bank and the optical outputs of the first group, and the second multiplexer being connected to the optical inputs of the second bank and the optical outputs of the second group; a configuration interface in communication with the first and second multiplexers and configured to receive a switching command, where the switching command specifies at least one of: connection of a particular optical input to a particular optical output; and, disconnection of a particular optical input from a particular optical output; a plurality of optical input indicators, each of which is associated with a respective optical input, and each optical input indicator being configured to provide information regarding: whether or not the respective optical input is connected to an optical output; and the optical output to which the respective optical input is connected, if any; a plurality of optical output indicators, each of which is associated with a respective optical output, and each optical output indicator being configured to provide information regarding whether or not any optical inputs are connected to the respective optical output; and a plurality of optical input indicator pairs, each indicator in a pair being associated with a respective half of an optical input with which the pair is associated, and each indicator in the pair configured to provide information regarding any optical power received at the respective half of the optical input.

2. The optical network access switch as recited in claim 1 , wherein the optical inputs and optical outputs comprise dual connections.

3. The optical network access switch as recited in claim 1 , wherein signals from respective outputs of a group of individually controllable optical outputs are directable to different respective destinations.

4. The optical network access switch as recited in claim 1 , wherein each optical input is configured to receive optical signals of various wavelengths.

5. The optical network access switch as recited in claim 1 , wherein optical signals transmitted from the optical outputs of a group each have substantially the same wavelength, while optical signals received at the bank associated with that group have different respective wavelengths.

6. The optical network access switch as recited in claim 1 , further comprising: a plurality of hardware interfaces, each of which is configured for communication with at least one component of the optical network access switch, and the plurality of hardware interfaces comprising: a 10/100 Ethernet port; a US power connector; and an RJ45 RS232 port; and a plurality of software interfaces, each of which is configured for communication with at least one component of the optical network access switch, and the plurality of software interfaces comprising: an Ethernet interface; and an IP address reset interface.

7. The optical network access switch as recited in claim 1 , wherein the optical network access switch is compatible with the following protocols and nominal data rates: 1/2/4 Gb/s Fibre Channel; and 1 Gb/s Ethernet.

8. The optical network access switch as recited in claim 1 , wherein the optical network access switch is cascadable with one or more optical network access switches.

9. The optical network access switch as recited in claim 1 , wherein the optical network access switch is configured to perform signal retiming.

10. An optical network access switch, comprising: a bank of individually selectable dual optical inputs; a group of individually controllable dual optical outputs; a plurality of receiver modules, each of which communicates with a respective dual optical input, and each receiver module comprising: a first optical receiver in communication with a first side of the respective dual optical input; and a second optical receiver in communication with a second side of the respective dual optical input; a plurality of transmitter modules, each of which communicates with a respective dual optical output, and each transmitter module comprising: a first optical transmitter in communication with a first side of the respective dual optical output; and a second optical transmitter in communication with a second side of the respective dual optical output; a multiplexer in communication with the transmitter modules and receiver modules; a plurality of optical input indicators, each of which is associated with a respective optical input, and each optical input indicator being configured to provide information regarding: whether or not the respective optical input is connected to an optical output; and the optical output to which the respective optical input is connected, if any; and a plurality of optical output indicators, each of which is associated with a respective optical output, and each optical output indicator being configured to provide information regarding whether or not any optical inputs are connected to the respective optical output; and a plurality of optical input indicator pairs, each indicator in a pair being associated with a respective half of an optical input with which the pair is associated, and each indicator in the pair configured to provide information regarding any optical power received at the respective half of the optical input.

11. The optical network access switch as recited in claim 10 , wherein the transmitter and receiver modules substantially comply with the small form-factor (SFF) standard.

12. The optical network access switch as recited in claim 10 , wherein the optical network access switch is cascadable with one or more optical network access switches.

13. The optical network access switch as recited in claim 10 , wherein signals from respective outputs of a group of individually controllable optical outputs are directable to different respective destinations.

14. The optical network access switch as recited in claim 10 , wherein each optical input is configured to receive optical signals of various wavelengths.

15. The optical network access switch as recited in claim 10 , wherein the optical network access switch is compatible with the following protocols and nominal data rates: 1/2/4 Gb/s Fibre Channel; and 1 Gb/s Ethernet.

16. An optical network access switch, comprising: first and second banks of individually selectable optical inputs, the first and second banks being independent of each other; first and second groups of individually controllable optical outputs, the first and second groups being independent of each other; a wavelength converter in communication with one of the optical inputs and the optical outputs; first and second multiplexers, the first multiplexer being connected to the optical inputs of the first bank and the optical outputs of the first group, and the second multiplexer being connected to the optical inputs of the second bank and the optical outputs of the second group; a configuration interface in communication with the first and second multiplexers and configured to receive a switching command, where the switching command specifies at least one of: connection of a particular optical input to a particular optical output; and, disconnection of a particular optical input from a particular optical output; a plurality of optical input indicators, each of which is associated with a respective optical input, and each optical input indicator being configured to provide information regarding: whether or not the respective optical input is connected to an optical output; and the optical output to which the respective optical input is connected, if any; and a plurality of optical output indicators, each of which is associated with a respective optical output, and each optical output indicator being configured to provide information regarding whether or not any optical inputs are connected to the respective optical output; and a plurality of optical input indicator pairs, each indicator in a pair being associated with a respective half of an optical input with which the pair is associated, and each indicator in the pair configured to provide information regarding any optical power received at the respective half of the optical input.

17. The optical network access switch as recited in claim 16 , wherein signals from respective outputs of a group of individually controllable optical outputs are directable to different respective destinations.

18. The optical network access switch as recited in claim 16 , wherein each optical input is configured to receive optical signals of various wavelengths.

19. The optical network access switch as recited in claim 16 , wherein the optical network access switch is compatible with the following protocols and nominal data rates: 1/2/4 Gb/s Fibre Channel; and 1 Gb/s Ethernet.

20. The optical network access switch as recited in claim 16 , wherein the optical network access switch is cascadable with one or more optical network access switches.